MENOMINEE RANGE MEMORIES 21: The Role of
Newspapers in Documenting Early History – Part 1
By William J. Cummings, Menominee Range Historical Foundation Historian
The Iron Mountain News was established on April 11, 1921, by Frank J. Russell Sr.
Pictured here is the Editorial Department office of the newly-established newspaper,
taken in about 1922. Thomas J. Masterson, managing editor, was at his typewriter at
the left and the man wearing the hat was probably Clyde J. McCauley, telegrapher and
sports editor. The woman at the lower left is unidentified. Russell purchased The
Tribune-Gazette and The Iron Mountain Press which were merged into the new
newspaper. The Tribune was started in 1897, and The Gazette was founded in 1896, the
same year as The Iron Mountain Press. Thus, The Iron Mountain News was, in essence,
a merger of three early Iron Mountain newspapers. [Menominee Range Historical
Museum]
[NOTE: Dates, placed chronologically,
are highlighted in boldface red letters
for easier reading, and names of
individuals and places are highlighted in
boldface black letters to facilitate
finding information.]
American
newspapers
were
first
published in the early 18th century. These
colonial newspapers became a political
force in the campaign for American
independence.
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MENOMINEE RANGE MEMORIES 21: The Role of
Newspapers in Documenting Early History – Part 1
By William J. Cummings, Menominee Range Historical Foundation Historian
The importance of a free press among
the Founding Fathers resulted in its
inclusion in the First Amendment (1791) to
the United States Constitution which
prohibits Congress from obstructing the
exercise of certain individual freedoms:
freedom of religion, freedom of speech,
freedom of the press, freedom of assembly
and the right to petition.
Following the Revolutionary War,
newspapers became closely aligned with
political parties with the editors often
serving as the local party spokesmen.
During the early 20th century, prior to the
rise of television, the average American
read several newspapers per day in larger
metropolitan areas.
The nature of American journalism
changed beginning in the 1920’s, as radio
and later television became to play
increasingly important competitive roles as
news sources.
One reason newspaper accounts play
such an important role in documenting an
area’s early history is that they were written
at the time the events occurred. Often
extremely detailed, their contemporary
nature usually means they are more
accurate than later reminiscences. The
reporters covering these events probably
didn’t realize that they were, in fact, writing
their community’s history.
The evolution of journalism on the
Menominee Iron Range began as explorers
sought out mines and railroad construction
began in the early 1870’s. Newspapers in
established settlements in the surrounding
area began publishing reports on the
development of the new iron fields, often
through
correspondents
working
on
railroad construction or mining pursuits.
Perusing old newspaper columns
includes the adventure and thrill of finding
answers to questions which long have been
a mystery, or encountering something
totally unexpected. Every time a page is
turned new possibilities are presented.
One such exciting find was a series of
articles describing the building of the
Menominee Range Railroad which began
in the February 18, 1873 edition of The
Escanaba
Tribune.
Established
December 9, 1869, The Escanaba Tribune
changed its name to The Iron Port
beginning with its October 6, 1877 issue,
heralding its status as the Menominee Iron
Range’s port.
The
Mining
Journal,
originally
established in Copper Harbor on Lake
Superior’s Keweenaw Peninsula in 1846,
began publishing in Marquette, Marquette
County, Michigan, in the fall of 1855.
Another exciting discovery, a series of
articles on the Menominee Range
Railroad which began appearing in the
January 27, 1877 edition of The Mining
Journal, provided additional documentation.
First The Escanaba Tribune and then
The Mining Journal began publishing
letters submitted by correspondents
connected with the Menominee Range
Railway branch line of the Chicago &
Northwestern
Railway,
using
the
pseudonyms “Racketty” and “Wolverine”
respectively, to document the progress
being made between Powers Station,
initially referred to as “42”, and the new
iron fields. The number “42” signified that
the Menominee Range Railway branch
junction began 42 miles east of
Menominee, Michigan.
“Racketty” Clark apparently ran a hotel
at “42” when he wrote letters to The
Escanaba Tribune (later The Iron Port)
from that point. Racketty’s letters became
a featured weekly column titled “Our
Correspondence from the Menominee
Range Railway” which documented the
railway’s progress between May 12, 1877
and November 3, 1877. In mid-August,
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MENOMINEE RANGE MEMORIES 21: The Role of
Newspapers in Documenting Early History – Part 1
By William J. Cummings, Menominee Range Historical Foundation Historian
1880, a “Range Item” entry identified the
writer’s surname, as by then Racketty
Clark was working in Quinnesec’s The
Menominee Range newspaper office
under Editor William J. Penberthy.
Wolverine’s first letter, dated Breiting
Mine [later the Vulcan Mine], June 1,
1877, was published in the June 9, 1877
edition
of
The
Mining
Journal.
Wolverine’s actual identity has not yet been
determined.
These contemporary accounts provide
some of the most interesting, detailed and
significant documentation of the early
development of the Menominee Iron Range
and provide a flavor of the life and times of
those involved.
The initial issue of The Menominee
Range, the first newspaper published on
the Menominee Iron Range in Quinnesec,
Menominee County, Michigan, appeared
March 19, 1879 with William J. Penberthy
as editor and John Lane Buell, the founder
of Quinnesec, as publisher.
Many years ago John Alquist, a
diligent, native Quinnesec historian, was
researching at the Spies Public Library in
Menominee, Michigan, when he noticed
this first issue of The Menominee Range
under the glass covering a table. He
inquired about the newspaper, resulting in
the library donating this historic document
to the Dickinson County Library. This
issue has been completely transcribed and
is available on the research computer in the
Dickinson County Library.
Carl L. Wendel, who platted Norway,
Menominee County, Michigan, purchased
The Menominee Range from Penberthy in
the spring of 1881 and moved the paper to
Norway.
On July 1, 1882, Wendel, who was
preoccupied with his iron mining interests,
sold the newspaper to Henry S. Swift, who
moved the newspaper to Iron Mountain,
Menominee County, Michigan. In 1883,
Robert P. Tuten joined Swift. On January
1, 1884, Tuten bought a half-interest in the
newspaper, and then on August 13, 1884,
bought out Swift’s interest entirely.
On May 21, 1891, The Menominee
Range became The Iron Range, when
Dickinson County was formed. Publisher
Tuten wanted to remove Menominee from
the masthead to disassociate with
Menominee County.
The newspaper
continued to be published as The Iron
Range through October 27, 1892, when
the name was again changed to The
Range-Tribune.
The last microfilmed
edition dates to April 30, 1898.
Tuten also established The Daily
Tribune, a 4-page newspaper which began
July 6, 1896, and was published through
July 3, 1899.
Unfortunately, the bound volumes for
the first ten years of The Menominee
Range are missing. The Dickinson County
Library’s collection begins with Volume XI
(March 28, 1889).
Fortunately, another outstanding find
was made in the columns of The Mining
Journal when The Menominee Ranger, a
newspaper within a newspaper, was
discovered.
As the Menominee River Railroad
was being constructed, Peter J. Bennett
used the pseudonym “Bowlders” and
wrote many columns published in The
Mining News under that name.
On March 29, 1879, Bennett began
publishing The Menominee Ranger, not to
be confused with Quinnesec’s The
Menominee Range, on pages leased from
The Mining Journal which were “devoted
exclusively to the news and advocacy of the
interests of the Menominee Range,
including Escanaba and Menominee.”
The Menominee Ranger, published
from March 29, 1879 through August 14,
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MENOMINEE RANGE MEMORIES 21: The Role of
Newspapers in Documenting Early History – Part 1
By William J. Cummings, Menominee Range Historical Foundation Historian
1880, contained regular columns devoted to
the developing settlements along the
Menominee
Iron
Range,
providing
contemporary news from Waucedah,
Vulcan,
Norway,
Quinnesec,
Iron
Mountain, and Commonwealth and
Florence, Wisconsin, as they were
established.
The Quinnesec Reporter followed The
Menominee Range, beginning publication
in January, 1882. Henry S. Swift, the
publisher and editor, purchased The
Menominee Range from Carl L. Wendel
on July 1, 1882, and moved that
newspaper from Norway to Iron Mountain.
The
Quinnesec
Reporter
was
discontinued by September 30, 1882. No
issues have been found.
The Dickinson County Herald, also
called The Quinnesec Herald, was first
published by James Fitzgibbons and Ted
McKenna
on
February
9,
1897.
Fitzgibbons withdrew from The Quinnesec
Herald by June 3, 1897. No issues have
been found.
The Norway Iron Chronicle first
appeared in Norway, Menominee County,
Michigan, on August 28, 1880, with
Bennett & Shabel, publishers. Peter J.
Bennett had just finished publishing The
Menominee Ranger on August 14, 1880.
By July 1, 1882, Bennett had a new
partner, John “Jack” McCarthy. A month
later, in August, 1882, Bennett sold his
interest to Mr. Cooney, and the partnership
became McCarthy & Cooney. By May 19,
1883, McCarthy was the sole owner and
proprietor of The Norway Iron Chronicle.
Only three issues have been found and are
microfilmed: August 28, 1880; July 28,
1883; and December 23, 1883.
On February 7, 1885, the first edition of
The Current, published by A.C. Cook,
appeared on the streets of Norway,
Menominee County, Michigan.
J.B.
Knight, who had ably managed the paper
for year and a half for Cook and who
continued the publication until his death in
1926,
purchased
The
Current
in
September, 1886. Charles Tesseyman,
Knight’s son-in-law, served as manager and
editor following Knight’s death.
The
Current
contains
wonderful
contemporary accounts, and is especially
useful in researching mining news, as
Knight was detailed and complete in his
coverage.
The Florence Mining News, the
earliest surviving newspaper from the
Menominee
Range,
commenced
publication January 1, 1881, when
Florence was still a part of Marinette
County, Wisconsin. Claude M. Atkinson
was the first editor. On May 5, 1883,
Atkinson sold the newspaper to Chase S.
Osborn and James I. Toner. Osborn
purchased Toner’s interest a year or two
later.
On April 9, 1887, Osborn sold the
newspaper to Henry C. Campbell and
George C. Youngs. On August 1, 1888,
Campbell & Youngs dissolved their
partnership, and Fred M. Youngs
purchased Campbell’s interest in the
newspaper, forming the Youngs Bros.
This newspaper is also an outstanding
resource for mining news, and documented
the extension of the railroad into Iron
County
(then
Marquette
County),
Michigan, and the early development of
settlements therein.
Chase S. Osborn became editor of The
Sault News in Sault Ste. Marie, Chippewa
County, Michigan, and was elected as
Michigan’s 27th governor, serving from
1911 to 1913.
Both Marquette’s The Mining Journal
and The Florence Mining News contained
accounts of the Chapin and Ludington
miners’ strike in five-year-old Iron
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MENOMINEE RANGE MEMORIES 21: The Role of
Newspapers in Documenting Early History – Part 1
By William J. Cummings, Menominee Range Historical Foundation Historian
Mountain in November, 1884.
The
stacked headline on a handbill attached to
the November 24, 1884 edition of The
Florence Mining News read:
“Chapin and Ludington Miners Go Out
on Thursday Afternoon to the Number of
Over 1,000 – Differences in Time the
Cause – Supt. Cady’s Life Threatened and
Supt. Stockbridge Beaten and Driven Out of
Town. – Threatening to Stop the Pumps
and Burn the Buildings. – A WILD MOB.”
Peresonally, the most exciting article
found involved my great-great-grandfather,
Albert G. Cummings, a pioneer Iron River
resident. He was wounded in a shooting
on Genesee Street in front of his
restaurant on Monday, February 23, 1891.
The detailed story appeared in the
February 28, 1891 edition of The Florence
Mining News under the stacked headline:
“A MURDEROUS POLACK. – JOS.
HOLAS, INSANE WITH RAGE, SHOOTS
TO KILL AT IRON RIVER. – He Fires two
Charges of buckshot Into a Large Crowd of
People – He Shoots High, but Seriously
Wounds Two Men – He Fires a Third Time,
Probably Fatally Wounding Marshal Scott
and Injuring Al. Cummings, who were
Trying to Arrest Him – The Fiend Finally
Secured – A Lynching Bee Barely Averted.
– The Would-Be Assassin Run Out of the
County in Order to Save His Precious Neck
– Full Particulars on the Exciting
Occurrence.”
This serendipitous find
provided an astounding bit of unrecorded
family history.
The Diamond Drill began publication in
Crystal Falls, Iron County, Michigan,
January 22, 1887. Claude M. Atkinson
was the publisher. The greatest find for the
Iron Mountain area encountered in this
newspaper was an account of the grand
opening of the Commercial Hotel (later
known as the Milliman Hotel, the
Dickinson Hotel and the Dickinson Inn)
on Tuesday, January 17, 1888.
The
detailed account filled three full columns on
the front page and four full columns of the
back page of the January 21, 1888 edition
of The Diamond Drill.
The stacked headline read: “A GRAND
AFFAIR. – THE MOST BRILLIANT EVENT
OF THE SEASON. – The Opening Ball of
the Commercial Hotel a Phenomenal Event
of Pleasure. – A Good Account of the
Reception – The Address – Programme –
Menu – Committees – Guests – Minute
Description of the Hotel and Furnishings –
In the Basement – An Interesting Chapter
Relative to Hotels. – Biographical Sketches.
– Notes of Interest.”
The Mining Reporter, founded by
Edward P. Lott, a local attorney, published
its first issue in Iron River, Iron County,
Michigan, August 29, 1885. In 1887 Lott
sold the newspaper to Pat O’Brien, who
changed the name to the Iron County
Reporter, and shortly thereafter to the Iron
River and Stambaugh Reporter.
From 1887 to 1921 the newspaper
operated as a weekly publication. It was a
daily newspaper briefly, with George Breen
serving as advertising manager. When
daily operation was suspended the
newspaper appeared on Tuesday and
Friday, and later changed publication dates
to Monday and Thursday.
Publisher Pat O’Brien died in 1933, but
ownership remained in the family with
Mauritz E. Carlson, husband of Dorothy
(O’Brien) Carlson, Pat’s daughter, in
charge. George Breen served as both
editor and manager and later was named
general manager. Eugene Moore became
editor. Breen retired in 1958 and Moore
became both manager and editor until he
resigned in 1962.
Albert K. Silfven, who had been the
news editor at the Reporter since
September, 1961, became managing
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MENOMINEE RANGE MEMORIES 21: The Role of
Newspapers in Documenting Early History – Part 1
By William J. Cummings, Menominee Range Historical Foundation Historian
editor. Carlson sold both the newspaper
and the Reporter Office Supply Store to
Northland Advertising, Inc., of Ashland,
Wisconsin, September 26, 1968.
At some point in the mid-twentieth
century the bound volumes were burned,
and few issues remain. Thus, Iron River
and Stambaugh lost a significant amount of
their contemporary history with the
thoughtless destruction of these early
newspapers.
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